New FileMaker Pro 8.5 Features Live Web Data on Demand

[Ocean West]

[color:red][big]New FileMaker Pro 8.5 Features Live Web Data on Demand[/big]

[blurb]

Monday July 10, 9:00 am ET

FileMaker Ships 4 New Universal Application Products With Up to 116% Faster Performance for FileMaker Server 8.0 v4 and Up to 91% Faster Performance for FileMaker Pro 8.5 on Macintosh Intel computers

SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FileMaker today announced the immediate availability of FileMaker Pro 8.5, the first desktop database to provide built-in integration with live web data (http://www.filemaker.com/fmp85pr).

As easy as it is to bookmark a web page, a live web page can now be added to a record in a database using the new Web Viewer Control in FileMaker Pro 8.5. Data in specified record fields, such as customer's address or product name, will drive the URL in the Web Viewer. Set it up once and there will be a live web link for every record in the database. Possibilities include street maps based on a customer address field, shipping status based on a shipment tracking number and stock performance charts based on a stock symbol.

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"Delivering web data on demand continues our tradition of setting new standards in the database market," said Dominique Goupil, president, FileMaker, Inc. "With the new Web Viewer in FileMaker Pro 8.5, we are leading the way users will harness Web data. And we expect to reignite the workgroup database category with this breakthrough benefit."

Observes Raymond Boggs, vice president, Small/Medium Business and Home Office Research, IDC, on the new FileMaker Pro 8.5 Web Viewer: "The new FileMaker 8.5 version provides the up-to-date information available through the Internet while still giving customers total control of the application."

The new product line, which includes FileMaker Pro 8.5, FileMaker Pro 8.5 Advanced, FileMaker Server 8.0v4 and FileMaker Server 8.0v4 Advanced all feature new Universal Application support and run on Mac OS X on Intel-based Macs delivering up to 116% faster performance vs. running on Power PC, based on the company's benchmark testing (for FileMaker Pro 8.5, go to http://www.filemaker.com/products/fmp/universal_app.html and for FileMaker Server 8.0v4 go to http://www.filemaker.com/products/fms/benchmark.html). The new versions also run on Power PC-based Macs, Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

Available exclusively within FileMaker Pro 8.5, FileMaker also introduces the FileMaker Learning Center, a convenient way for users of all levels to learn FileMaker at their own pace. The FileMaker Learning Center includes free video tutorials, how-to guides and many other resources.

FileMaker Pro 8.5 also offers powerful new object functions and scripting capabilities, features that carry on the company's tradition of providing greater productivity for developers and more intuitive solutions for users.

What beta evaluation customers and database developers are saying about FileMaker Pro 8.5

"Currently we browse a FileMaker Pro products table for pricing information, and also a Sharepoint server for detailed information on the products, such as data sheets and white papers," says Peter Davey, Director of Professional Services, Toshiba Business Solutions (http://tbsfl.toshiba.com/florida/index.shtml), Tamarac, FL. "With the Web Viewer Control in FileMaker Pro 8.5 we'll be able to browse this data inline -- which will be much more efficient -- just click on an SKU for a product in the products table, and immediately browse the inline data sheets!"

"We use FileMaker Pro as a data warehouse for an Executive Dashboard project that we're currently developing," reports John DeMillion, IT Director, Chester County Intermediate Unit (http://www.cciu.org). Chester, PA. "With the addition of the Web Viewer, we'll be able to easily include web-based data in the warehouse for inclusion in the dashboard. FileMaker Pro 8.5 is a great step forward in the evolution of the product."

"We've just bought some new Intel Macs, and the performance just screams," enthuses Sheila Mixdorf, General Manager, Bulldog Marketing, Cedar Falls, Iowa (http://www.bdogm.com/). "We do a lot of data manipulation, and FileMaker Pro 8.5 improves performance in one data load from 45 minutes to 4 minutes."

"The FileMaker Web Viewer displays visually stunning interactive charts/graphs, data/analytic models, visual reports, exported as interactive Flash/PowerPoint/Word/HTML files," observes Database Developer William R. Moseid, Model Masters, Murietta, CA. (http://fmpsolutions.com).

"For us, FileMaker's greatest strength is that it can be so much more than just a database," notes Chris Manton, FileMaker database developer, BabelFix Ltd., (http://www.babelfix.com/) London, United Kingdom. "Application-style solutions can provide a unified environment combining advanced functionality with complex linked data. To do this seamlessly, the trick is to do everything possible within FileMaker, avoiding the need to switch to other applications. The Web Viewer provides countless new opportunities for exactly this kind of rich integration -- and all so easily available from right within FileMaker."

New Web Integration and Productivity Features in FileMaker Pro 8.5

FileMaker Pro 8.5 for Windows and Mac OS X, features many new capabilities to make databases more productive and "web smart" for users while providing powerful new ways for developers to better control database functions.

New features include:

FileMaker Web Viewer Control -- This new layout object allows users to easily connect databases with the critical, up-to-date Web data. Links are easy to establish: simply enter the web address or point to a field containing the web address. FileMaker Pro 8.5 also includes ready-to-use built-in links for many popular web sites, including Wikipedia and others so that users can add web sites within their FileMaker Pro 8.5 records.

Users can also create links that will search through web sites and display information based on data in a database. FileMaker Pro 8.5 offers several ways to learn how to use the new functions:

A Web Viewer Sample Database is included in the product to

demonstrate how to use much of the content listed above.

FileMaker offers the Web Viewer Gallery

(http://www.filemaker.com/products/fmp/wvg) where users can learn

more about ways to integrate Web Viewers into their own solutions

from examples created by FileMaker and leading third-party FileMaker

database developers.

In addition to linking to public web sites, the FileMaker Web Viewer can be used to interact with web-enabled commercial and custom solutions from within their FileMaker database solution. For example, a database of sales information could be connected with an internal web-based solution that displays shipment information.

Beyond adding URLs, users can view virtually any type of content in the Web Viewer that can be viewed in a Web browser including:

-- HTML

-- PDF

-- QuickTime

-- Java applets

-- Flash

-- SVG charts

-- PHP charting classes

-- Fillable forms

-- Word or Excel files (on Windows platforms)

Universal Application -- All four new products are Universal, with native support for next generation Intel-based Macs delivering up to 91% faster performance for FileMaker Pro 8.5 and up to 116% faster performance for FileMaker Server 8.0v4 compared to running on Mac Power PCs (For FileMaker Pro 8.5, go to http://www.filemaker.com/products/fmp/universal_app.html and for FileMaker Server 8.ov4 go to http://www.filemaker.com/products/fms/benchmark.html).

FileMaker Learning Center -- A world of information and resources is now all within one place for FileMaker Pro 8.5 users of all types and levels of experience. Just one click away within the FileMaker Pro 8.5 Help menu, users will now have access to centralized, updated information on FileMaker Pro 8.5 quickly and easily.

New Object Functions and Scripts -- Developers will be more productive in creating intuitive solutions with new functions, such as Layout Object Names, Go to Object script steps, Layout Object calculations, Set Web Viewer script step and List function.

New Chinese Version -- FileMaker Pro 8.5 will be available for purchase in both simplified and traditional Chinese within 90 days. Versions of FileMaker Pro 8.5 in Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish are also planned to be available for purchase within the next 30 to 90 days.

Pricing and Availability

All FileMaker Pro 8.5 products are immediately available. Existing users of FileMaker Pro 8.0 and FileMaker Pro 8.0 Advanced may upgrade to FileMaker Pro 8.5 for $99 (U.S. suggested list price).

FileMaker Server 8 and FileMaker Server 8 Advanced can get Universal CDs that support Intel-based Macs for only $49. These CDs are available for purchase on the FileMaker online web store or by calling FileMaker customer service.

New users may purchase FileMaker Pro 8.5 for $299 (U.S. suggested list price) and FileMaker Pro 8.5 Advanced for $499 (U.S. suggested list price). FileMaker Server 8 is priced at $999 (U.S. suggested list price) and FileMaker Server Advanced 8 is $2,499 (U.S. suggested list price). FileMaker offers license discounts for volume purchasers as well as for education and non-profit organizations.

Users running FileMaker Server 8 and FileMaker Server 8 Advanced on the Windows or PowerPC-based Mac computers, can download the FileMaker Server 8.0v4 and FileMaker Server 8.0v4 Advanced compatibility updates from the FileMaker web site. These free compatibility updates address certain known issues in FileMaker Server 8 and do not include support for Intel-based Mac computers. Visit http://www.filemaker.com/support/downloads/index.html for more information.

About FileMaker, Inc.

FileMaker Pro is used by millions of individuals and workgroups around the world to be more productive and efficient. Business, education and government customers rely on FileMaker to manage people, projects, images, assets and other information. In addition to being the number one-selling easy-to-use database software, the award-winning FileMaker product line also includes low-cost Applications that automate basic business tasks, ready-to-use Starter Solutions, and tools to create and share solutions from the desktop to the web. FileMaker, Inc. is a subsidiary of Apple Computer, Inc (AAPL).

NOTE: FileMaker is a trademark of FileMaker, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.

Source: FileMaker, Inc.

[IT_boy]

I've noticed that the benchmark test compares FileMaker 8.5 on a PowerPC to FileMaker 8.5 on a intel based mac. They didn't compare FileMaker 8.3 on a powerpc to FileMaker 8.5 on an intel mac. The test doesn't really tell us how fast the new intel version of filemaker is rather it tell us the difference between it running on an intel mac and a powerpc.

I would like to see a speed/benchmark test that compares filemaker 8.3 to filemaker 8.5 on an intel.

[Fenton]

I can say from own experience (using a pre-release version; still waiting for the new one) that 8.5 is at least twice as fast as running in Rosetta,* maybe many times as fast. I didn't do any scientific testing. I didn't really need to, it was so obviously faster. In other words, if you have an Intel Mac, you want the upgrade, no question at all.

* I moved from a G4 1.25 GHz to an iMac Intel 2.0 GHz, so Rosetta seemed OK, but FileMaker wasn't much faster than it was on my G4.

Edited July 10, 2006 by Guest

[Reed]

I just did one completely non-scientific test to compare the speed of 8v3 to 8.5v1 on a PowerPC Mac. (Dual 2GHz G5 10.4.7)

Importing ~10,000 records with a match field from an ODBC source took ~24 seconds with either product. This was using the Actual ODBC driver to connect with MS SQL server.

Has anyone tested ODBC performance on Intel Macs? Do the drivers work under Rosetta? Are there any Universal ODBC drivers?

I don't have an Intel Mac to try this out.

[CliffS]

Question about Filemaker 8.5:

Is it possible to write a script which will:

1) log into a https://website (which is not xml-enabled)

2) enter information into a form on that website

3) capture the text response from the website

4) use ordinary functions to parse the text

Thanks!

[lance123]

Hi To All,

In the new web viewer the overview at the start of this post says it will do pdf, fillable forms and flash. This sounds like a lot of potential. Can someone clarify a couple of points for me?

1/ Can it do pdf crossplatform in IWP

2/ Can you actually interact with a pdf fillable form in web view IWP?

3/ Can you interact with flash web content?

Thanks for any help on this.

Lance

[lance123]

I think I have answered some of my own questions via the filemaker website knowlege base.

1/ Can it do pdf crossplatform in IWP (NO)

2/ Can you actually interact with a pdf fillable form in web view IWP? (NO as above, as a mac is unable to view pdf in a browser.)

3/ Can you interact with flash web content? (Don't know)

Regards,

Lance

[surwoop]

2/ Can you actually interact with a pdf fillable form in web view IWP? (NO as above, as a mac is unable to view pdf in a browser.)

Both Safari 2 & Adobe Reader 7 let you to view pdf files in the browser.

[lance123]

Thanks for the heads up on the pdf form option with Safari 2! I will do some more homework on this.

So, it may be an option for Web Viewer to view pdf forms using Safari 2 as the IWP browser??

Thanks,

Lance

[AlanP]

Can anyone who has worked with 8.5 yet tell me:

1) how 'fancy' can you do the html from within filemaker. for example in the included samples of the web viewier they provided, they have a 'custom reports' layout. It looks like they added quite a bit of html code in the variables...so can other things be added such as images (using img src) and CSS?

2) is the web view simply using the default browser for the OS? For example in a win box would it be IE and in a mac box, safari? (and if so we should really have full browswer functionality?)

3) For the search feature...if using an internal web search form (lets say .asp), is it still possible to script with the web viewer?

Edited July 13, 2006 by Guest

[rogermax]

2) is the web view simply using the default browser for the OS? For example in a win box would it be IE and in a mac box, safari? (and if so we should really have full browswer functionality?)

It is not the default necessarily. On Windows it is tied to IE even if your default is FireFox, and so on.

[AlanP]

Excellent...we actually *need* it to be IE so that works. I assume what you can do (see) in a regular IE browser will be the same via 8.5?

I've noticed a few posts talkign about this but I wonder if they are talking about scripting from filemaker to the web viewer and not necessarily the content from the web or intranet being displayed or run via the web viewer.

[cobra]

Hi CliffS,

I've just tested accessing an https server, logging in to the server (via a form, not http authenticate login...which you should be able to accomplish by specifying "http://username:[email protected]" as the web viewer's URL), posting data, capturing a response, and logging out.

This is not as simple as it should be however. There are three issues (there may be more)

1) A web viewer will not wait for a requested page to be loaded before a second requested page is loaded (through the set web viewer script step).

The work-around is to build pauses into your script. This is a less than ideal solution, as your specified pause between url loads (I used 4 seconds for https web pages) may be too long or too short.

Edit: Another work-around that seems to be successful is to use the Exit loop If (not IsEmpty(GetLayoutObjectAttribute ( "WebViewerObjectName" ; "content"))) to ensure that the page is loaded. However, you may have to build a timeout into this to prevent looping forever.

An ideal solution would be the ability to specify a timeout value and an option to "load url completely before subsequent url requests to this web viewer are loaded" in the set web viewer script step.

2) There is no option to make a web viewer act "globally". As it will refresh to its initial state every time we move to a new record, the design of the initial web page that is loaded via the web viewer will affect how your solution works. For example, if the initial url of the web viewer is a login page, will the act of loading that page log you out from the web site?

A work around here is to have the web viewer turned on and off by a global variable (if the global variable is set to "no" the calculation for the web viewer's URL results in nothing or a local file). It is also possible to move the web viewer to a separate layout that is not used for browsing records, but displays information obtained through the web viewer. In this way, unnecessary bandwidht is not wasted when the user is browsing records and the user has the ability to view web-based content on demand only.

3) This is a feature, depending on the way you look at it, but may not be documented: All parameters passed to the web viewer appear to be automatically URL encoded. My advice is to strip out any URL encoding you may have manually done when loading web pages in past versions of FileMaker. Otherwise, you'll find that URL encoding, such as % 20 (for spaces), will itself be encoded.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Cobra

Edited July 16, 2006 by Guest